ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2774 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2774 ************************************ 30 Nov 2003 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know how the Scottish Gaelic feminine name would have been pronounced between 1300 and 1550. Here is the information we have found. As we noted in our previous letter, is a fine choice. We have evidence that some form of this name was used in Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries. We are not sure how it was spelled. In Irish Gaelic records from the same time period, the name is spelled , and we believe that this is also appropriate for Scotland. [1] The name was pronounced roughly \RAHGH-n@ltch\, where \@\ stands for the sound of the in , \GH\ represents a sound not used in modern English; it is the voiced equivalent of the raspy sound in the Scottish word or German . (Voiced means pronounced with your vocal cords vibrating. \G\ is the voiced equivalent of \K\.) is also a fine choice for your father's name. We have evidence that some form of this name was in use in Scottish Gaelic in the 15th and 16th centuries. [1] We believe this spelling is appropriate for the beginning of your period, and that towards the end of your period the name was spelled . is not quite correct; the spelling is appropriate for an earlier period, roughly before 1200. For your period, the spelling is correct. Also, to construct a byname meaning 'daughter of Toirdhealbhach', will need to be put into the genitive (possessive) case; this change is analogous to the change from to in English. In Scottish Gaelic in your period, the genitive of is . The corresponding genitive of is . The pronunciation of the byname will depend on precisely when in your period you want to be. Earlier in your period, was pronounced \EEN-y@n\, but by the end of your period it was pronounced \NEE-y@n\. The pronunciation of too changed over the years; c. 1300 we believe it was pronounced roughly \TAR-y@l- vich\, but by the 16th century, was pronounced approximately \TAR-lich\. [2] In these pronuncations, \ch\ is the soft German in 'I'. We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Gerita del Mere, Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, and Mari neyn Brian. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 30Nov03 -- References: [1] Krossa, Sharon L., "Scottish Gaelic Given Names" (WWW: privately published, 2000-2002). http://www.MedievalScotland.org/scotnames/gaelicgiven/. [2] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986). s.n. Maccarlich